UNBELIEVABLE!
Jeff Stelling announces he’s to quit Sky Sports Soccer Saturday after 27 years
Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling has announced he will leave the programme at the end of the season.
The 66-year- old broadcaster, who revealed the news on yesterday afternoon’s show, said he will also be departing Sky Sports but has no plans to stop working.
Stelling insisted he has not been forced to leave by Sky bosses.
His exit comes after pundits Matt Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas and Phi l Thompson were controversially dropped from the show last year.
Stelling said: “Before we do the team news from Newcastle, I have got some team news from Sky Sports and Soccer Saturday to tell you about.
“I will have been at Sky for 30 years next year and hosted Soccer Saturday for the past 25 or so – I am not too clever at statistics – but I have come to the decision, an incredibly difficult decision, that this will be my final season.
“It has been my decision. There has been no pressure whatsoever. Sky have been absolutely brilliant with me, as they always, always have been. I am not intending to retire but it is time to let somebody else have a go at what is the best job in the world.”
The news was greeted by a standing ovation f rom the show’s pundits.
Stelling added: “I am going to be here until May and then I am leaving the show and the company so that is about seven months of Saturday afternoon parties, so let’s get this party going.”
In 1994 Stelling was handed the role for Sports Saturday, which became Soccer Saturday four years later.
He was also the main host for Sky’s live Champions League coverage between 2011 and 2015.
Jonathan Licht, managing director of Sky Sports, said: “Jeff is a true broadcasting legend and has been a big part of Sky Sports’ growth and popularity.”